NORWEGIAN DEEP-SEA EXPEDITION OF 1878. 281 



knew that she would ride the waves securely and bring us all the sooner 

 home across the Arctic seas, .and we were all intensely homesick. 



At eight o'clock of the next day we got the first landfall of Norway. 

 Far out in the horizon we got a glimpse of something of a deep-bluish 

 hue, which at some times scarcely could be distinguished from the at- 

 mosphere, but which gradually became more distinct and defined. In 

 this we finally recognized with certainty the outmost island in the Loppe 

 Sea. It was Bird Island, toward which our course had been directed 

 during the whole time. Still we were a considerable distance from land, 

 and it being late in the night we retired to our berths with the happy 

 consciousness that we should soon be within the skerries in smooth 

 water. When we came on deck the following morning we were just 

 entering Grot Sound. For the first time for many weeks we again looked 

 upon green fields and trees, and soon the charming Trom Island, with 

 its cultivated fields, its beautiful forests, and its smiling tillages, lay 

 before us in its complete summer dress. At twelve o'clock we lay safely 

 moored at anchor in the harbor of Tromso, and we all soon had the 

 ideasure of receiving by post and telegraph fresh and glad tidings from 

 home. 



After stopping a couple of days at Tromso, which was necessary in 

 order to increase our supply of coal, we weighed anchor on Thursday, 

 the 29th of August, at two o'clock in the morning, and steamed south- 

 ward along the usual steamship route. The weather was brilliant, and 

 it was a source of great relief to us, after having been tossed about so 

 long on the billows of the Arctic Ocean, to be able to take our ease in 

 smooth water within the skerries. On the evening of the same day we 

 passed West-fjord in perfectly calm, beautiful weather. On the next day 

 our progress was checked somewhat by foggy weather; but the third 

 day was clear and warm as summer, and gave us another opportunity 

 to rejoice at the sight of the glorious mountains and fjord scenes down 

 along the coast of is'ordland. On Wednesday, the 4th of September, we 

 swung into the harbor of Bergen, where we were greeted by a general 

 display of flags, and after having given and received a salute we an- 

 chored in the usual place near the Sugar-house Wharf. Three of the 

 members of the expedition Chief Physician Dr. Danielssen, Mr. Friele, 

 and Cand. Thome, here bade us good-bye. The rest of us, after spending 

 two days in Bergen, passed with the Voring to Christiania, where we, 

 after a most delightful voyage, arrived on Monday last, the 9tli of Sep- 

 tember, at four o'clock in the afternoon. 



